“I once endured a challenging leadership environment where my ability to grow was limited. That experience motivated me to commit to never mirroring that kind of leadership myself.”
Sadly, too many employees across sectors find themselves in a similar situation to what Brensey Thompson, director of marketing and communications at United Way Suncoast, says she once experienced. In fact, a poor manager is one of the top reasons people leave their organizations.
In the nonprofit sector, many professionals are promoted for their outstanding individual contributions, but often don’t receive adequate training and preparation before assuming a management role.
That’s where the Certificate in Leadership comes in.
Modeling the Leadership We Want to See
Brensey says the negative leadership she once experienced has motivated her to invest in continuously developing her leadership skills to empower and uplift others.
Today, Brensey is one of 44 nonprofit professionals accepted into the fall 2025 Certificate in Leadership program that starts this week. This 10-week learning experience brings together nonprofit leaders who are new to managing people or programs (three years of experience or less) to develop the qualities and skills necessary to lead with authenticity and impact.
Previously offered once per year, the Nonprofit Leadership Center now holds its Certificate in Leadership in the spring and fall to accommodate increasing program demands. The fall 2025 class is more than double the size of a typical cohort, split into two groups due to a record number of applicants this season.
Meet the Fall 2025 Certificate in Leadership Class
Today, we’re thrilled to introduce our fall 2025 Certificate in Leadership class. Participants were nominated to apply by community and organization leaders, and their applications were reviewed as part of a rigorous selection process.
- Amy Manning, Outreach and Communications Manager, Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc.
- Amy Marshall, Club Manager, St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club
- Annette Evans, Director of Operations, Community Dental Clinic
- Antonio Brown, Founder/Executive Director, The Competitive Readers Coalition
- Ashley Neal, Chief Outreach & Operations Officer, Live Tampa Bay
- Brensey Thompson, Director of Marketing & Communications, United Way Suncoast
- Brianna Larson, Executive Director, Blue Butterfly Productions/Theatre eXceptional
- Caitlyn Guidice, Manager of Caregiver Relief Services, Parc Center For Disabilities
- Caitlyn Hurley, Director of Student Care and Advocacy, The University of Tampa
- Clara ten Berge, Director of Operations, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
- Cresencio “Chris” Davis, Founder/CEO, Faith Youth Services
- Darren Hammond, Operations Manager, Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation
- Daryl Clark, Director of Operations, Positive Spin, Inc.
- Dawn Birch, Volunteer Coordinator, Florida Dream Center
- Erica Sutherlin, Artistic Executive Director, The Studio@620
- Felicia Pizana, Director of Navigation, St. Pete Free Clinic
- Gabriela Holton, Sr. Director of Program Services, CASA
- Hayden Mitchell, Sr. Manager of Development Systems, Straz Center for the Performing Arts
- Idalia Rivera-Farris, CVI Program Manager, Safe and Sound Hillsborough
- Jennifer Blackmore, Director of Support Services, Children’s Network of Hillsborough County
- Jessica Evans, Program Director, James B. Sanderlin Family Center
- Joeley Luter, Senior Outreach and Resource Manager, Florida Council on Economic Education
- Kassidy Crider, Program Director, Community Stepping Stones
- Katherine Velez, VASH Coordinator, Pinellas County Housing Authority
- Loren Tate, Executive Support & Communications Specialist, Frameworks of Tampa Bay
- Maggie Potter, Founding Chair, Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation
- Mecca Hurst-Smart, Program Director, Layla’s House (Champions for Children)
- Melissa Ley, Co-founder and Executive Director, Florida’s Unique Education Learning Support (FUELS)
- Melissa Orkwis, Senior Manager of Information Technology, Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County
- Nelson Alicea, Business Agent, IATSE Local 321
- Nereida “Nedi” Gallardo, Assistant Director of Advocacy, ECHO of Brandon
- Patrick Doyle, Vice President of Grant Development, United Way Suncoast
- Poetry Veguez-Chang, Director of Operations, EmpowHERment
- Quin Puckett, Lead Navigator & Stronger Together Co-Chair, Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services
- Rebecca Washington, Executive Director, SOAR First
- Sarah Cain, Assistant Director, Catholic Charities-DOSP
- Sunny Royal-Boyd, Board Member, Speak To Me
- Thomas Vogel, Placement Success Manager, Tampa Bay, Year Up United
- Tiesha Watson, Adult Education Supervisor, Metropolitan Ministries
- Tiffany Johnson, Nutrition Education Manager, Feeding Tampa Bay
- Voltario Kelley, Director of Food Access, St. Pete Free Clinic
- Vonda Ford, Senior Director of Finance and Administration, Pinellas County Urban League, Inc.
- Walter Joseph, Business Service Manager, Year Up United
- Wolfgang (Arie) Fry-Eastin, Procurement and Logistics Project Manager, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside
Skilled & Confident Leaders, Proven Impact
Certificate in Leadership graduates report measurable increases in skills that are critical for long-term success and impact:
- After the program, 100% of participants agree they can respond authentically to the changes and challenges facing today’s nonprofit leaders, up from 59% before the program began.
- Participants’ ability to understand themselves and manage their organizational responsibilities increased from 88% to 100% from the beginning to the end of the program.
- 100% of participants agree they understood their leadership style and could develop a plan to enhance their skills after the program, up from 77% before the program began.
Learn more about the Certificate in Leadership and how you or your organization can be part of it.
